Pneumatic discharge arrangement for railway car hoppers

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic discharge arrangement for railway hopper cars comprises a housing divided into separate discharge chambers having valve openings and control means located therein for selectively discharging from said chambers. The openings are regulated by means of valves which are individually operable by a plurality of operating shafts projecting outwardly from opposite ends of the housings. The improvement includes locking elements for locking the valves in a closed position said locking elements being associated with removable cap locking means provided at opposite ends of a discharge trough which is adapted to be connected to a pneumatic discharge conveyer.

United States Patent Schuller [451 Sept. 26, 1972 1 1 PNEUMATIC DISCHARGE I ARRANGEMENT FOR RAILWAY CAR HOPPERS [72] Inventor: James J. Schuller, Dolton, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: March 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 121,380

[521 (1.8. CI. ..222/506, 251/90, 251/250, 251/289, 302/57 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 47/20 [58] Field of Senrch...222/SOS.6, 153, 505, 506, 558; 137/383, 384.2, 384.8, 385; 302/52, 57;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,950,145 8/1960 Dorey ..302/52 2,340.5 l9 2/1944 Dorey ..222/56l Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. Lane Attorney-Hilmond O. Vogel and Richard J. Myers 5 7] ABSTRACT A pneumatic discharge arrangement for railway hopper cars comprises a housing divided into separate discharge chambers having valve openings and control means located therein for selectively discharging from said chambers. The openings are regulated by means of valves which are individually operable by a plurality of operating shafts projecting outwardly from opposite ends of the housings. The improvement includes locking elements for locking the valves in a closed position said locking elements being associated with removable cap locking means provided at opposite ends of a discharge trough which is adapted to be connected to a pneumatic discharge conveyer.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEBsms 1912.

SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTOR JAMES J. SCHULLER BY /77ZM P'A'TE'N'T EDsms 191a 3.693.846

mmzma r INVENTOR JAMES J. SCHULLER ATT'Y FATENTEDSEPZS I972 SHEEI 3 BF 4 INVENTOR JAMES J. SCHULLER M fldafl/ ATT'Y P'A'IENTED SEP26 m2 SHEET 4 [1F 4 INVENTOR JAMES J. SCHULLER wwmf ATT'Y PNEUMATIC DISCHARGE ARRANGEMENT FOR RAILWAY CAR HOPPERS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS W. R. Shaver et a]. Ser. No. 121,381 Filed Mar. 5, I971 W. R. Shaver et al. Ser. No. l2l,379 Filed Mar. 5, 1971 F. P. Adler Ser. No. 889,497, Filed Dec. 31, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,262 ofJan. 25, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The field of art to which this invention pertains is in hopper discharge arrangements of the pneumatic type and particularly to those which are associated with railway hopper cars.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art structures include discharge arrangements wherein converging walls direct material to a tubular enclosure or trough provided at the bottom thereof. The trough is usually connected at opposite ends thereof to a suitable pneumatic source such as a pneumatic conveyor and regulation of the amount of discharge is governed by a rotatable tube disposed within the trough and which generally includes one or more longitudinal openings adapted to be set into various positions for regulating the amount of material discharged. Such devices have in certain instances not been satisfactory in metering the material from the hopper. The present arrangement provides for an accurate discharge arrangement which includes laterally slidable valves movable by manually actuated operat ing rods, which provide for line metering control of the material to be discharged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The prime object of the invention is to provide an improved pneumatic discharge arrangement for hopper cars wherein the discharge of material is accurately controlled by means of a valve arrangement which can be placed in position to meter any desired quantity of material to be discharged. A more specific object is the provision of means to lock the valve elements in a closed position during transit, the said means preventing material from being accidentally discharged from the discharge openings and being placed in a locked position when the discharge operation has terminated and closure caps again are placed over the discharge trough from which the material is discharged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view partially in section of an improved pneumatic hopper discharge arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view taken particularly along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified locking arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a hopper discharge structure is designated at 10 and is of a type adapted for use with railway hopper cars. Railway hopper cars generally comprise one or more hoppers including sloping walls 11 which are connected at their lower ends to angle members 12 of a rectangular frame. A discharge arrangement including a housing 13 is adapted to be supported on the angle members 12 of the frame. The discharge housing 13 includes vertical side walls 14 and vertical end walls 15 connected thereto. A pair of sloping side walls 16 converge downwardly as best shown in FIG. 3 and a pair of divider walls 17 as best shown in FIG. 1 are centrally located in the housing to divide the same into separate compartments. The upper ends of the converging walls 16 are provided with horizontal flanges 18 which are suitably connected to outwardly extending flanges 19 provided on the vertical end walls 15. Suitable gasket means 20 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 are disposed between the flanges l8, l9 and the angle frame members 12 so that the discharge housing 13 is rigidly secured thereto by suitable fasteners (not shown).

As best shown in FIG. 3, the sloping walls 16 converge downwardly to provide at their lower ends an elongated discharge opening 21 in each compartment,

extending substantially the length of the housing 13. A discharge trough designated at 22 of cylindrical shape is disposed beneath the discharge openings 21, one portion of said trough 22 being suitably connected to one of the walls 16 by a vertical wall portion 22' and the other end of the trough being connected to the other sloping wall 16 by means of a triangularly shaped block member 23 extending substantially the length of said trough and sloping walls 16. The block member 23 is provided with a surface 24 which extends in the plane of the wall 16 downwardly toward and forms one side of the discharge opening 21. As best shown in FIG. 3, the block member 23 is also undercut to provide a longitudinal space 25 in which a valve member 26 may be moved. As best shown in FIG. I, a pair of rods 27 is provided in each of the compartments of the housing 13, said rods extending transversely of the elongated slot 21 and each being arranged to operate a valve 26 movable to regulate an associate opening 21. The operating rods 27 are slidable in bearings 27' suitably supported on the wall portions 22' and block member 23 of the discharge trough 22. The ends of each of the rods 27 is provided with a rack portion 28 which is engaged by rack teeth 29 on operating shafts 30 for cooperating to move the rods 27 in sliding relation relative to the bearings 27' and to the discharge opening 21. The operating shafis 30 are disposed in horizontally spaced relation on opposite sides of the discharge trough 22 and extend outwardly from opposite ends of the vertical wall 15 so that each of the valves 26 may be operated from opposite ends or opposite sides of a railway car in either compartment. The operating shafts 30 are suitably carried for rotation in bearing sleeves 31 suitably supported on the vertical end walls 15. As best shown in detail in FIG. 5, the bearing sleeves 31 include a bearing bracket 32 which receives a reduced end portion 33 of each operating shaft 30. A lock disk 34 for the end of each shaft 30 includes a hub 35 provided 3 with a keyed opening 36 in which a key 37 is positioned. The key 37 is suitably keyed as indicated at 38 to an end portion of each reduced shaft extension 33 so that each of the lock disks 34 are keyed to the extensions 33 to operate to rotate the same.

As best shown in FIG. 2, each of the lock disks 34 is provided with a stop portion 39 which comprises a eutout 40 forming edges 41. Each of the disks 34 also includes a projecting boss 42 suitably provided with an opening or bore 43 adapted to be engaged by a suitable bar or tool for rotating each of the disks 34 and thereby rotating the shafts 30.

As best shown in F IG. 4, the opposite ends of the tubular discharge trough 22 include a conduit extension 45 in which a cylindrical stub conduit 44 is secured. A cylindrical cap or closure 46 is adapted to be removably disposed over the end of the cylindrical stub 45. A bail member 47 as best shown in FIG. I is pivotally connected to each of the cylindrical stubs 45 so as to be swung into the position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the caps 46 are locked in closed position. Each of the bails 47 also includes a cam lever 49 which is pivoted as indicated at 50 to each of the bail members 47, the said cam lever extending through a slot 51 provided in the bail 47 for engaging the cap as shown in FIG. I to retain the same in its closed position. Closure members for securing conventional caps to the ends of pneumatic outlets are also conventional. The improvement of the present invention resides in the arrangement for securing the operating shafts 30 against rotation when the caps 46 are retained in the closed posi tion. The arrangement is disclosed on the right hand end of the housing 13 (FIG. I) wherein the bail 47 includes a pair of outwardly projecting stop ears 52 which are adapted to engage edges 41 (FIG. 2) of the disks 34 to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of the disks and the operating shafts 30 with which they are associated. Similarly, rotation in a clockwise direction is prevented by the engagement of the end of the ears 52 with the stop edges of each of the disks 34.

The modification disclosed in FIG. 6 is identical in every respect to the disclosure shown in FIG. 2 except that the disks 34 are provided with stops generally designated at 54 in the form of notches or open end slots 55. Also the closure caps 46 in this modification are provided with a curved bar 56 which extends outwardly in laterally opposite directions from the cap 46 and has its end portions engaged in the slots 55 thereby restraining rotation of the disks 34 in any rotating direction. An actuating bar 57 may be inserted in the bores 43 of each of the bosses 42 for effectuating manual rotation ofthe operating shafts 30.

THE OPERATION In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the valves 26 are shown in the closed position for closing the discharge opening 21. This is the transport position. When the railway car reaches its destination and discharge is to be effected the end caps 46 are removed by rotating the bails 47 into an out of the way position. A suitable pneumatic discharge arrangement can then be attached to one of the cylindrical conduits 44 and material may be withdrawn from the discharge trough 22 upon opening of the valve 26. As indicated, and as particularly shown in FIG. 3, operation of the left hand shaft 30 in a clockwise direction will move the valve 26 (in right hand compartment in FIG. 1) into the space 25 to open one end of the opening 21 to its fully opened position. The valve, of course, can be adjusted incrementally to provide a metered discharge through the opening. The same operation takes place on the opposite compartment when the right hand operating shaft 30, in FIG. 3,

' is rotated. The reverse takes place, of course, for moving the valve to its closed position. In the transit position the operating shafts 30 are prevented from rotation by means of the ears 52 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and by virtue of the bar stop 56 in the modification shown in FIG. 6. Thus, by this arrangement it is a simple matter for the operator to remove the caps 46 which will immediately prepare the operating shafts for rotational movement when the hopper car has reached its destination. Similarly, the closure of the caps 46 at the end of the destination will immediately provide for locking the operating shafts in their closed position since the caps cannot be applied into proper closed position unless the ends of the bar 56 are within the notches 55 of the disks 34 as shown in FIG. 6 or the cars 52 are in locked position with respect to stops 39 of disks 34, as shown in FIG. 2.

What is claimed is:

1. For a hopper discharge structure having a discharge opening:

a discharge housing connected to said hopper,

said housing including a pair of downwardly converging walls forming an elongated opening in comm unication with said discharge opening,

a trough including laterally spaced vertical walls con nected to said converging walls,

a valve assembly supported within said trough for movement to position opening and closing said elongated opening,

means for moving said valve assembly including a rotatable shaft supported on said housing and connected to said valve assembly,

a conduit on said housing connected to said trough and being adapted to connect to pneumatic unloading means,

a closure assembly releasably connected to said conduit to close the end thereof,

the improvement comprising:

a lock assembly for retaining said valve assembly in a closed position including,

a lock member connected to said shaft for rotation therewith,

said lock member comprising a rotatable disc,

said disc including a cut-out portion, and a stop member on said closure assembly including a projecting finger element engaging said cut-out portion for restraining said rotation of said shaft in clockwise and counterclockwise directions,

said closure assembly including a bail shaped member hingedly connected to said housing,

a closure cap adapted to be placed over said conduit in closed relation,

clamping means on said bail shaped member in one position engageable with said cap for securing the same in said closed position over said conduit, and

said bail shaped member and finger element being movable about said hinged connection to a disconnected position relative to said cap and said disc.

2. The invention in accordance with claim I,

said cut-out portion of said disc including a shoulder engaging said finger.

3. A hopper discharge structure including a housing having a pair of downwardly converging walls disposed to form an elongated opening,

a tubular trough disposed beneath said opening,

conduit means connected to said trough and adapted to connect to pneumatic conveying means,

a closure assembly including a cap removably connected over said conduit means for closing the same,

a pair of longitudinally spaced valve members disposed in end to end relation within said trough,

means for moving said valve members between open and closed positions with respect to said opening including a pair of shafts respectively connected to said valve members,

said shafts extending parallel to said valve members substantially coextensive therewith and respectively disposed on opposite sides of said trough,

means on opposite ends of said housing connected to said shafts for operating each of said shafts,

a lock assembly for retaining said valves in a closed position including,

a lock member on each shaft for rotation therewith,

and

stop members on said closure assembly engaging said lock members in the closed position of said closure assembly for restraining rotation of said shafts.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3,

said lock member having a cut-out portion, and

said stop member comprising a finger on said closure assembly disposed within said cut-out portion.

# i l i 

1. For a hopper discharge structure having a discharge opening: a discharge housing connected to said hopper, said housing including a pair of downwardly converging walls forming an elongated opening in communication with said discharge opening, a trough including laterally spaced vertical walls connected to said converging walls, a valve assembly supported within said trough for movement to position opening and closing said elongated opening, means for moving said valve assembly including a rotatable shaft supported on said housing and connected to said valve assembly, a conduit on said housing connected to said trough and being adapted to connect to pneumatic unloading means, a closure assembly releasably connected to said conduit to close the end thereof, the improvement comprising: a lock assembly for retaining said valve assembly in a closed position including, a lock member connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, said lock member comprising a rotatable disc, said disc including a cut-out portion, and a stop member on said closure assembly including a projecting finger element engaging said cut-out portion for restraining said rotation of said shaft in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, said closure assembly including a bail shaped member hingedly connected to said housing, a closure cap adapted to be placed over said conduit in closed relation, clamping means on said bail shaped member in one position engageable with said cap for securing the same in said closed position over said conduit, and said bail shaped member and finger element being movable about said hinged connection to a disconnected position relative to said cap and said disc.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said cut-out portion of said disc including a shoulder engaging said finger.
 3. A hopper discharge structure including a housing having a pair of downwardly converging walls disposed to form an elongated opening, a tubular trough disposed beneath said opening, conduit means connected to said trough and adapted to connect to pneumatic conveying means, a closure assembly including a cap removably connected over said conduit means for closing the same, a pair of longitudinally spaced valve members disposed in end to end relation within said trough, means for moving said valve members between open and closed positions with respect to said opening including a pair of shafts respectively connected to said valve members, said shafts extending parallel to said valve members substantially coextensive therewith and respectively disposed on opposite sides of said trough, means on opposite ends of said housing connected to said shafts for operating each of said shafts, a lock assembly for retaining said valves in a closed position including, a lock member on each shaft for rotation therewith, and stop members on said closure assembly engaging said lock members in the closed position of said closure assembly for restraining rotation of said shafts.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said lock member having a cut-out portion, and said stop member comprising a finger on said closure assembly disposed within said cut-out portion. 